SketchUp and Revit

Many SketchUp projects make their way into other programs for further detailing or documentation. At the same time, projects from these other programs often find their way into SketchUp for better visualization, collaboration, and improved communication. Autodesk Revit is one of the most popular applications for Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflows. Importing Revit files into SketchUp, or exporting your SketchUp files for use with Revit, can help enhance your own workflows using the power of both platforms.

SketchUp Files in Revit

There are a few ways you can import your SketchUp models into Revit:

• As an "In-Place" component
• As a "Link"
• As an IFC export

For more information, including best practices for using SketchUp files with Revit, see Exporting SketchUp Files to Revit.

Revit to SketchUp

SketchUp’s Revit Importer helps convert Autodesk Revit projects into SketchUp models. The import process transfers geometry, materials, textures, building levels, tags, and critical BIM data.

To use the Revit Importer, you’ll need to make sure you have the following:

• A SketchUp Pro Scan, SketchUp Pro Advanced Workflows, or SketchUp Studio subscription
• A currently supported version of SketchUp
• A Revit file created with at least Revit 2011, up to the current version of Revit supported by the Revit Importer
• SketchUp for Desktop on Microsoft Windows

The Revit Importer is an extension available for download from Extension Warehouse. When you download SketchUp, the Windows installer provides the option to include the extension as part of your installation.

The following articles can help you learn more about importing Revit files:

• Revit Version Compatibility – Information about which versions of Revit the importer is compatible with and why the importer may not be compatible with the latest version.
• Preparing a Revit Files for SketchUp – A few things you should consider before importing your Revit file.
• Importing a Revit File – How to use the Revit Importer to import a file into SketchUp.
• Phases in Revit Importer – More information about Revit phases and how they can influence what appears in your imported file.
• Importing Revit Metadata – Learn more about what happens when you choose to import Revit metadata.
• Materials and Textures in Imported Files – A few things to know when importing Revit materials and textures.
• Alternative Revit to SketchUp Options – For those who don't have a subscription with access to the Revit Importer, we've compiled a few other options that allow you to work with Revit inside SketchUp.